The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has condemned an attempt by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to arrest Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah at the premises of the Accra High Court.
According to the GBA, EOCO’s attempt to arrest the Manhyia South MP at the High Court, where he had gone to represent a client as a lawyer, is a grave concern.
The GBA stated that after reviewing the videos of the botched arrest, they observed Lawyer Afoakwa was assaulted by a woman who was subsequently identified by EOCO as one of its officers.
They acknowledged that no individual is above the law but said enforcement agencies must ensure that investigations and arrests involving lawyers are carried out in accordance with constitutional and professional safeguards, particularly when a lawyer is performing official duties on behalf of a client.
GBA also warned that failure to respect those safeguards could have broader consequences for the legal profession.
In a statement dated September 24, the GBA stated, “The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has noted with grave concern the attempt by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to arrest the Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, on the premises of the Accra High Court Complex where he had gone to represent a client in his capacity as a lawyer, on 23 September 2026.
The GBA also observed in the widely circulated videos of the attempted arrest that another lawyer, Mr Enoch Anhwere Afoakwa, complained of being assaulted by the lady, subsequently confirmed by EOCO to be its officer.
While no individual is above the law, any investigation or enforcement action involving a member of the legal profession, especially when they are representing clients, must be conducted strictly in accordance with constitutional guarantees, applicable legal procedures, and respect for professional independence. Attempts to circumvent these safeguards create the perception of intimidation and may have a chilling effect on the legal profession as a whole.
Lawyers play a critical role in the administration of justice and the protection of the rights of citizens. Any action that appears to interfere with their ability to discharge their professional duties, particularly through arbitrary or irregular measures, risks undermining public confidence in the justice system and the rule of law.
It is noteworthy that the current President of the GBA, in her speech at the 2025 annual GBA conference in Wa, had cause to make the following remarks: “
The Bar must never waiver in its role as the voice of the voiceless. Unfortunately, recent incidents affecting lawyers in the performance of their duties have left much to be desired. Lawyers should be at liberty to defend clients of their choice without being heckled. Such unruly acts may stifle the provision of bro bono cases by well-meaning lawyers.”
Again, at the Virtual Mid-Year Conference -June 5, 2026, the GBA President noted as follows:
“Recently, a former Vice President of the Bar, Justice Minka Premo and his young female associate, who had gone to the defence of a client at BNI, were subjected to such regrettable treatment. They were arrested and detained overnight much to everyone’s chargrin. The female lawyer, a nursing mother, was separated from her baby and was initially unable to feed her baby.
This worrying incident has left in its trail serious unanswered questions: If these persons were under the security radar, prior to their visit to BNI, why had they not been invited earlier? We trust that such agencies will keep faith with the creed of Ghana’s Constitution- freedom and justice in order that the rendering of professional services to the citizenry is not hampered.”
The GBA calls on EOCO and all relevant state institutions and agencies to ensure that all actions taken in the discharge of their responsibilities are consistent with due process, fairness, and respect for the rights of all persons involved. The rule of law demands not only that justice be done, but that it be seen to be done. The independence of the legal profession is a cornerstone of every democratic society and must be protected at all times’.
See the statement below:
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